I.S.A. - International Studies Academy San Francisco

Remember: Earlier Fall Start!!

MOM — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:02:00 +0000

Remember!!

The first day of school comes earlier this year: Students start Monday, August 16 throughout SFUSD in order to finish the first semester by winter break.

See you then – we hope you had/have a happy and safe summer!!

New School Year Brings Big Changes to SFUSD Instructional Calendar

This past spring, SFUSD continued its efforts to improve instruction with an adjusted calendar, but it also faced the reality of massive budget cuts. The result is a school year for 2010-11 that will begin a week earlier than usual but will include four fewer days of school.

Improved Semester Schedule
One of the most important changes is a continuous first semester. As many current students and staff know, the former fall semester schedule was interrupted by winter break, requiring students to take extra time to get back to where they were in their studies when they returned for the final two weeks of the fall semester in January.

For middle and high school students the earlier start will mean final exams and papers will be completed prior to leaving for winter break, allowing them to rest without the pressure of finishing assignments or studying for tests.

For teachers, ending the fall semester before the winter break will allow them to adjust what is known as the “master schedule” in response to student needs. Before, students were locked into a year-long block for many core courses such as English and Math and the one-day break between semesters did not allow sufficient time for schools to adjust for those who failed a class. Under the new calendar, students who failed a first semester class such as Math or English will be able to retake the class before continuing with the second segment.

Also, the subsequent early start of the second semester will allow more instructional time prior to the standardized (STAR) and advanced placement (AP) tests students take in late April and early May. The school year will end May 27, 2011, before Memorial Day.

The new calendar was created by a committee of district employee representatives, teachers, parent representatives and administrators, and was adopted by the Board of Education.

Budget cuts reduce calendar by four days, saves teachers’ jobs
In June, the Board of Education approved a revised instructional calendar for 2010-11 to include four fewer days of instruction, due to budget reduction furlough days (unpaid work days) for all SFUSD staff.

The furloughs are part of the district’s cost-cutting measures as it faces a $113 million shortage of funds from the state of California over the next two years. The district estimates the furloughs – when schools, child development centers and district offices will be closed – will save approximately $9.2 million in 2010-11 alone, making it possible for the district to avoid laying off hundreds of teachers.

In addition to its regularly-scheduled holidays, schools will be closed:

• Monday, November 1, 2010
(The teachers union (UESF) requested this to be one of the furloughs)

• Friday, February 4, 2011
(This was chosen to create a long weekend; February, 3 is the district’s Lunar New Year holiday)

• Friday, March 25, 2011
(This furlough will extend spring break by one day)

• Monday, April 25, 2011
(This creates a long weekend before the end of the school year)

You can view the 2010-11 calendar here.

BMAGIC Backpack Giveaway

MOM — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:22:00 +0000

HOPE U R ENJOYING YOUR SUMMER,
Latrice M. Manuel, Parent Liaison

Please download and distribute the BMAGIC Backpack Giveaway PDF Flier!

Bayview Hunters Point Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in Our Communities [BMAGIC] advances the educational, economic, and juvenile justice of underserved youth and their families in Bayview Hunters Point. BMAGIC is a collaborative San Francisco neighborhood-based nonprofit organization that coordinates community resources and opportunities to support service providers and community members in Bayview Hunters Point.

School District Boycotts Arizona Travel

MOM — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:24:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Gentle Blythe (415)241-6565

School District Boycotts Arizona Travel

June 24, 2010 (San Francisco) – Superintendent Carlos Garcia proposed, and the Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved, a resolution prohibiting SFUSD from funding travel and/or attendance to conferences or meetings in the State of Arizona. The resolution was adopted on June 23 at the BOE’s general meeting.

The boycott is a response to the April 23, 2010 signing of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070, which requires all law enforcement to investigate a person’s immigration status when there is a reasonable suspicion the person is in the country unlawfully, and the state of Arizona’s recent adoption of House Bill 2281, which prohibits public schools from teaching Ethnic Studies.

“These bills encourage racial profiling and violate our Fourteenth Amendment rights,” said Garcia.

Garcia noted that the Board of Education’s recent adoption of Resolution No. 101-26A in February of this year calls for an Ethnic Studies pilot program and the recruitment and retention of teachers who have relevant experience and educational background in the study and/or teaching of Ethnic Studies. This is a direction Garcia is proud of, but which the state of Arizona is opposing.

Garcia added, “As Dr. Martin Luther King said, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere,’”

Each board member asked to have his or her name added to the resolution. The boycott is effective immediately.

Office of Public Outreach and Communication | 555 Franklin Street, Room 305 | T 415.241.6565, F 415.241.6036 | WWW.SFUSD.EDU

Summer Camps

MOM — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:32:48 +0000

For parents who are scrambling finding camps SFkids.org has compiled a fantastic list of camps – here are some quick camp searches for you:

Summer School

MOM — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:51:13 +0000

APPLICATION CAN BE PICKED UP BY ISA STUDENTS on 6/7-6/8

Five Keys Charter School will offer Four Courses this Summer.
Dates July 6 – August 6.

English Composition, Biology 1 & 2, Algebra 1 & 2, U.S. History 1 & 2

Open Enrollment: 6/7-10 11 am -12 noon or 12 noon – 1 pm.

MANDATORY Orientation June 11th 9:30 – 12 at the Southeast College (Room 306), 1800 Oakdale Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 – lunch will be provided.

For more information please phone Chablis Scott (Hunters Point Family)
415-824-3225

Nichole Sullivan (Deputy Director of Operations for Five Keys) 415-734-3312

ISA iTrips for 2010-2011

MOM — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:46:39 +0000

Hi folks,
Congratulations to each of you for making it to summer time!!

ISA is still finalizing the International Trips (iTrips) for next school year 2010-2011, but I wanted to give you a heads up on the ideas so you can plan.

It looks like we will have 3 trips next year:

1. China or Japan

2. Germany

3. New York

I do not have any more information at this time regarding price, dates, itinerary, etc. However, if one of these trips interests you, you should begin your fundraising now. Many students use the summer to get a job, or visit family out of town and get donations, in order to have the money to travel. As always, ISA will do its best to fundraise to reduce the student price as much as possible. Also, ISA will reimburse $100 for any student getting a new passport.

Lastly, the Germany trip is a very unique experience. The group of Germans comes in October and lives with ISA families for 3 weeks. Then, in June 2011, the ISA students will go to Germany and stay with their partner student. This has been a very successful exchange for the past 3 years.

If you are interested in hosting a German student in October 2010, please let me know very soon. We need to get our list to the German teacher. If you host a German student, you do not have to go to Germany in June 2011, but you will have priority if you choose to.

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the iTrips. I hope many of you will take advantage of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Mr. Livingston

I.S.A. to Germany iTrip – Updated Schedule

MOM — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:32:28 +0000

Hi Friends and Families of ISA,

Our student travelers have finally arrived in Germany greeted patiently by our German host families in Frankfurt and transported to their homes Friday at 5 pm. This weekend we relax and enjoy Germany with host families. I will keep you all updated on developments. Our schedule is below.

Monday: Visit Mayor Weik of Wermelskirchen (town of 36,000) for an ISA presentation
Tuesday: Köln (Gothic Catholic church built in 1248, one of largest in Northern Europe) also has very old university, town of 10 million people (4th largest city in Germany)
Wednesday: Rhine River Boat Tour, Castle Tour and Knight Games
Friday: Barbecue with all host families and Germans vs USA basketball-volleyball challenge
June 10-13: With host families
Monday: Train ride to Berlin, site seeing in Berlin including Parliament Tour
Tuesday: Site Seeing in Berlin
Wednesday: Day Trip to Sachsenhausen (Concentration Camp Tour – administrative camp, trained elite officers), shopping and museum
Thursday: Site Seeing in Berlin, The Wall at Bernauer Straße, Hackesche Höfe, return to Köln by train
June 18-21: With host families
Tuesday, June 22: Leave to SFO, arrive at 12:50 pm

Verna

ISA Music Recital Invite!

MOM — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:49:33 +0000

You are cordially invited to ISA’s Musical Recital taking place in the ISA auditorium this Tuesday, 25th, @ 6pm.

Our students will be performing works by Handel, Hannah & Barbera, and even a personal composition.

You will have the opportunity to hear your students play with the Band, Strings and Guitar ensembles.

Please come; your students will be delighted to see you!

Sincerely, Ms. Guzman, Music, 202

I.S.A. Sports Awards

MOM — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:14:23 +0000

The Cobra Athletics proved once again that perseverance and dedication to their sport reap rewards!

On Thursday, May 20, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM ISA Parents/Guardians came out and participated in the Sports Awards Potluck (located in the library) to meet and mingle with the coaches, teammates, and parents. The highlights of the evening were no doubt the I.S.A. Sports Awards proudly presented to our fabulous Cobra Athletics.

Gerson Rivera has been presented with the International Studies Academy 2009-2010 Cobra Dedication Award.

Our photo pictures Gerson Rivera (Track and Field) while leaving the Sports Awards Potluck around eight. Congratulations to Gerson Rivera for being selected by I.S.A. coaches for the International Studies Academy 2009-2010 Cobra Dedication Award.

And a Big Hand of course also to all other Cobra Athletics presented yesterday with awards and trophies – GO COBRAS!!

School Events

MOM — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:03:55 +0000

Hi Parents,

Just a reminder about the events happening this week.

On Thursday, May 20th @ 2pm we will be having our Pacific Islander – Latino Cultural Assembly in the auditorium. I am sure that the youth will be excited to have you present.

On Thursday after school, we will be having our Middle School Dance in the auditorium 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Tickets are $5.00. There will be a professional photographer ($5.00 per picture).
Snacks will be provided. Chaperones are WELCOME!

AT 6 pm on Thursday, May 20 we will be having our Sports Awards Dinner for all team players during the 09/10 school year. This is a potluck. If you can please tell Latrice or Mr. Norman what you will be bringing. Please come out and celebrate your child’s accomplishments.

Friday, May 28th. Parents we want to appreciate all of your efforts in making ISA run as smooth as possible. Please come eat a Hearty Breakfast on us. This we be held in the school Library from 8 am – 10 am.

Ms. Latrice and Ms. Sharon will be your chefs.